Both Dhammachayo and Thatthacheevo stripped of monastic fans

Dhammakaya Temple’s honorary abbot Phra Dhammachayo and its former acting abbot Phra Thatthacheevo have had their ceremonial monastic fans and certificates of monastic rank taken away.

Both the elaborate fans and the certificates were handed to Suthep Phurattana-opa, the acting chief of the Pathum Thani Buddhism Office, and Klong Luang assistant district chief Sermwit Sombat on Monday.

Suthep and Sermwit took the fans and certificates after HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn stripped both monks of their monastic ranks.

The monastic fans reflect the rank of monks, if they have a rank.

Neither Phra Dhammachayo nor Phra Thatthacheevo were present at the hand-over, which was carried out by the temple’s current acting abbot, Phra Ratchapawanajarn.

Phra Dhammachayo and Phra Thatthacheevo are both facing several legal charges.

To date, Phra Dhammachayo has still not turned himself in to authorities.